Ben Currie takes case to Supreme Court

The inquiry involving 28 alleged offences against Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has been further adjourned after his lawyers went to the Brisbane Supreme Court seeking a judicial review of three aspects of the case.

Stewards charged Currie and several of his staff after raiding his Toowoomba stables on April 7.

He was originally charged with 31 offences but three of those were dropped and the remaining 28 charges were to be heard at a reconvened inquiry on August 13.

That inquiry was adjourned to allow further particulars of the charges to be given to Currie’s lawyers.

In a short statement on Thursday, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission said the reconvened stewards inquiry had been further delayed until the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing.

A Supreme Court application for judicial review by Currie is set down for September 28.

Currie’s lawyers will seek the review on the grounds stewards have not properly exercised their right of discretion to allow Currie to have legal representation at his hearing.

His lawyers to date have not been allowed into the previous inquiry hearings.

It will also be further argued QRIC has failed to provide proper particulars relating to some charges including how Currie was alleged to have influenced or been responsible for any breach of rules.

Thirdly, Currie’s lawyers will allege he has been denied justice by QRIC refusing to release to them transcripts of a hearing in which some of Currie’s employees were questioned under oath by a barrister.

QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett said the Commission would make no comment at this time.

Currie’s lawyer Jim Murdoch QC also said he had no comment until after the Supreme Court hearing.